🌾 Riverfest is here

One week until Riverfest!

Author

Landon Huslig
May 30, 2025

Together With

Good morning, Wichita!

At the risk of jinxing it for everyone…

It looks like we might have an incredibly beautiful, mostly sunny kick-off to Riverfest this weekend!

(knock on wood)

Let's get to it!

- Landon

Riverfest is Here

Wichita Riverfest 2025 is officially here and there is so much to do, see, and experience.

If you want a full day by day schedule and more, the Riverfest website is pretty sweet with the new digital guide. A few things to keep in mind as we approach this weekend:

  • Tonight there are Riverfest fireworks at 10:45pm, but if you are already downtown, enjoy the Wind Surge Fireworks at 9:45pm for a double feature.

  • Family Fun Day is Sunday 6/1 - it will now be FREE for children 12 and under (as long as an adult with a button is with them). This is the only day that kids 6-12 get in free, kids 5 and under are always free. The Riverfest team heard you, listened, and wants to help.

  • Food Court Update - You no longer have to buy tickets that you trade for food. It’s ALL ticketless and cashless baby. Break out the plastic

  • Light the Spire! - The Century II spire (the thingy that sticks straight up out of the middle of the space ship) will be lit for the first time in a decade on June 1st as part of the Riverfest “I Choose Wichita” event

  • VIP Concert Experience - Concerts are a huge part of Riverfest. Your button gets you in at no extra cost, but if you are feeling a little extra, many of the concerts offer VIP seating.

  • Another great way to get an even better view at the concerts is through the Century II Balcony Parties on May 31st, June 4th, and June 7th!

Together with with Somewhere Fest

Last summer, downtown Wichita came alive like I’ve never seen before.

Elsewhere Fest (now called Somewhere Fest) brought thousands of people out to enjoy a musical festival like Wichita had not yet experienced.

This year they are back with a new name and an incredible line up including Deadmau5.

LOCAL BUSINESS

Opening

Closing

Rise Farms

High above the streets of Wichita is a different world.

Is that a bird? Is that a plane? No it’s…

Rise Farms.

On top of the 5-story car park for Fidelity is a 15,000-sq-ft micro farm (the largest in the midwest) called Rise Farms.

Rise Farms Herb Fest is this Sunday from 10am to 2pm for you to come check it out!

Starlite Drive-In

Starlite Drive-in gives you more, call 524-2424!

If you have any fond memories of Starlite Drive-In, go vote for it to win Newsweek’s best Drive-In.

#WichitaLife

@whatuprell | Downtown Wichita captured beautifully

Use #WichitaLife to get your post in the Wichita Life Update!

Together with Heal Without Harm

Tired of a healthcare system that prioritizes profits over patients? 

Meet Dr. Clayton Dir, a Wichita-based physical therapist exposing the pitfalls of modern medicine—and doing something about it. 

On the Heal Without Harm podcast, Dr. Dir sits down with local and nationally known guests to share client success stories, explore new approaches to health and medicine, and bust common myths about pain and recovery. If you’ve ever felt let down by traditional care, this podcast is your antidote.

CIVIL

Barry Sanders Football Complex

Coming in 2026, is a new major football facility called the Barry Sanders Football Complex for youth and adult football at Dr. Glen Dey Park with a goal to create a “premier regional football complex”.

I hope it comes with a statue of Barry Sanders, arguably the greatest running back of all-time.

Pool Szn

Don’t worry, you didn’t miss much while it was rainy weather all week.

The City of Wichita shut the pools and splash pads down for 4 straight days due to cold temps and steady rainfall.

Water Treatment Plant on Track

The new Wichita Water Treatment Plant is still on track to be ready to roll by the end of the year even though it has experienced some mechanical failures.

Free Summer Meals

The Summer Food Service Program is officially live now through July 25th where any child in the community (even non-Wichita Public Schools students) can get free meals. Adults are also welcome to get an affordable meal.

Wichita Public Library

Tomorrow is the grand re-opening of the Maya Angelou Branch Library at 3051 E 21st St. Come on out at 9:45am!

LOCAL

First Friday

You have until 5pm today to submit your First Friday exhibit!

Pickleball Tournament

Come out and support a good cause while playing pickleball!

The Trinity Younglife Pickleball Tournament is on June 8th at TapNPaddles!

Coming Together for a Cure

Coming Together for a Cure (CTFAC) is a Wichita-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting families affected by rare diseases like Duchenne muscular dystrophy. They just announced their new, free Caregiver Support Application in partnership with Cix Health!

Opera Kansas

Opera Kansas has two more showings of Staggerwing, a 90 minute opera on May 31 and June 1 at the Wichita Children’s Theatre.

Saturday Sale

A fellow Wichita Life Update reader is hosting a moving sale tomorrow (Saturday 5/31) from 7-11am only as they are downsizing.

A few details include furniture & more:

  • A less than a year old including a Thomasville charcoal gray sectional and storage ottoman purchased at Costco

  • overstuffed chairs

  • an office desk and credenza

  • Cabellas clothing

  • a refrigerator that is less than 5 years old

  • and more!

The address is 1558 N Aster Circle, Andover, KS 68002 (Prairie Creek) - tell them Landon sent you.

ICT EXTRA

Top clicks of the week 🖱️

Top Local Reads

Have you seen the top local reads for 2025?

Follow a Foodie

Follow a local foodie content creator here on Instagram

WSU Garden

Have you seen the Woolsey Hall gardens?

AUSL

Do you have your tickets to the pro softball league coming to Wichita?

Click the banner above to view the full event calendar

Weekend

Friday 5/30

Saturday 5/31

Sunday 6/1

LIVE MUSIC

Don't see your concert or show here?

SPORTS

*Bold = Home

That's it for today! Send this to someone who is ready for the weekend.

Thanks!

- Landon